New York Giants Preseason Wrap-Up

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

The preseason for the NFL is an exciting time as fans get the first glimpses of their favorite teams; the new players the team brought in and the fresh slate gives every team the hope that this could be their year. That’s about all that is good with the preseason though as it reared its ugliest head throughout the process in injuries. One team that was hit hard with this was the New York Giants, who saw really no positives from the preseason. Here is a rundown of the preseason as a whole as the Giants gear up for the regular season opener on Sunday Night Football September 7^th in Dallas against the Dallas Cowboys.

-Injuries

Fox Sports/ AP Photo

2013 NFL Previews: New York Giants

Jason O. Watson/US Presswire

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

Last Season:

A 9-7 season can rarely be categorized as a disappointment but that is exactly what 2012 was for the New York Giants; 2012 was a difficult one for Big Blue in more way than one. The defending Super Bowl champs had to face the most difficult schedule in the NFL and struggled with injuries once again throughout the season. Prince Amukamara and Kenny Phillips missed time throughout the season and Terrell Thomas was lost in the preseason once again to decimate an already thin defensive backfield. Justin Tuck battled a number of injuries all season and was ineffective, not registering a sack until the seventh game of the season.

All of this led to an underwhelming performance on defense for the Giants last season. They were atrocious all season long, ranking 31^st in yards allowed with 383.4 yards per game; 28^th in passing yards per game at 254.3 yards per game and 25^th in rushing at 129.1 yards per game. They did give up only 21.5 points per game, good for 12^th in the league, but they had a penchant for giving up big plays. The Giants actually gave up the most plays of 20+ yards in the NFL. Where the biggest problem for the Giants occurred was in the sack department. The Giants, whose defense relies on pressuring the quarterback, finished last in the NFL with only 20 sacks last season. A big drop-off from Jason Pierre-Paul and Tuck being hurt really hurt the Giants.

New York Giants Draft Preview: Defensive Back

Elsa/Getty Images

By Kenneth Teape (@teapester725)

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, as we get closer to the primetime opening round April 25^th.  This will be the ninth and final part in a series where I will discuss the current and needs for the upcoming NFL Draft for the Giants.

The ninth and final position I will take a look at is defensive back.

Currently on the depth chart for the Giants at defensive back is Corey Webster, Prince Amukamara, Aaron Ross, Jayron Hosley, Terrell Thomas, Antonio Dennard, and Buddy Jackson at corner back, Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown, Will Hill, Ryan Mundy and Tyler Sash, at safety and Laron Scott, David Caldwell, Terrence Frederick and Trumaine McBride at defensive back.  From last season the Giants lost safety Kenny Phillips to the Eagles, while corner backs Justin Tryon and Brian Witherspoon remain free agents.